Hypothetical Meaning

3

2

1

Other expressions with

Fuentes

IT'S TIME...

+ PAST SIMPLE

WOULD RATHER

SUPPOSE / WHAT IF...?

It should have been done before.

For emphasis, add: high / about

Examples

+ Past Perfect

+ inf. without to

Present Simple

Past Simple

Past Perfect

HYPOTHETICAL MEANING

+ Past Simple

The action should have been done before.

• It's (about) time you started revising for the exam.
• It's high time we set off. The train leaves in half an hour.

We wanted something to happen (or not) in the past.

• I'd rather you hadn't told her that.
• I'd rather you had asked me first.

WATCH OUT! This alternative is used to talk about preferences in the present or future.

• I'd rather go to the concert than to the opera.
• They'd rather go on foot.

It i used to describe something that may possibly happen or may have happened.

• Suppose someone sees her with us.
• Suppose someone hears you coming in.

It is used to talk about something that is just imagination or which is unlikely to happen in the future.

• Suppose Eleanor knew you loved her. What would you do?
• Suppose you won the prize. How would you feel?

It is used to talk about something that could have happened in the past but didn't.

• Suppose we hadn't told her. Would she have found out?
• Suppose you had married Carlos. Would you have been happy together?

We want something to happen in either the present or the future.

• I'd rather you didn't tell anyone about all this.
• Would you rather I asked someone else?
• I'd rather we didn't discuss that, if you don't mind.